7.67M watch Belmont on NBC

NBC’ broadcast of the Belmont Stakes, which was won by Union Rags, drew 7.67 million viewers, a gain of 12 percent from last year’s race (6.84 million on NBC), and up 62% from the 2010 race (4.74 million on ABC). Saturday’s Belmont was the most-watched in a non-Triple Crown year since 2005 on NBC, less than one percent lower than the 7.71 million that year, according to official national data provided today by The Nielsen Company.

The complete press release is included after the jump.

7.67 MILLION WATCH BELMONT ON NBC

2nd Most-Watched Non-Triple Crown Belmont in Nielsen People Meter History (1988); Just 45k Viewers Less than 2005 on NBC

7.67 Million Viewers for Belmont is up 12% From Last Year and up 62% from 2010 on ABC

Three Triple Crown Races on NBC (Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont) Averaged 10.34 Million, up 2% from 2011; 2nd Best in Non-Triple Crown Year Since 1988

NEW YORK – June 12, 2012 – Viewership for the Belmont Stakes on NBC soared, despite the scratch of Triple Crown-hopeful I’ll Have Another, topping last year by 12%, and 2010 by 62%. Saturday’s viewership is the highest for a non-Triple Crown Belmont since 2005 on NBC, and the second-best for a non-Triple Crown Belmont in Nielsen People Meter history (dating back to 1988).

The average viewership for this year’s three Triple Crown races on NBC (Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont) is up 2% from last year’s three races, is the best for a non-Triple Crown year since 2005, and the second-best for a non-Triple Crown also dating back to 1988.

2012 BELMONT STAKES:

NBC’ broadcast of the Belmont Stakes, which was won by Union Rags, drew 7.67 million viewers, a gain of 12 percent from last year’s race (6.84 million on NBC), and up 62% from the 2010 race (4.74 million on ABC). Saturday’s Belmont was the most-watched in a non-Triple Crown year since 2005 on NBC, less than one percent lower than the 7.71 million that year, according to official national data provided today by The Nielsen Company.

The race portion of the Belmont (6:13-6:58 p.m. ET) registered a 4.8/11 national household rating, 12% higher than last year’s 4.3/10 on NBC and 60% higher than the 2010 Belmont (3.0/7 on ABC).

The pre-race (5-6:13), bolstered by a 90-minute Belmont Access show on NBC Sports Network that preceded the NBC broadcast, drew 4.35 million viewers, up 27% over last year (3.43 million on NBC) and up 129% from the 2010 pre-race on ABC (1.90 million).

The three Triple Crown races on NBC (Kentucky Derby – 14.83 million, Preakness – 8.08 million and Belmont – 7.67 million) averaged 10.34 million viewers, up 2% from last year’s three races (10.12 million), making it the best average for a non-Triple Crown year since 2005 (10.40 million), and the second-best for a non-Triple Crown since the advent of Nielsen People Meters in 1988.

The three Triple Crown races on NBC (Kentucky Derby – 14.83 million, Preakness – 8.08 million and Belmont – 7.67 million) averaged 10.34 million viewers, up 2% from last year’s three races (10.12 million), making it the best average for a non-Triple Crown year since 2005 (10.40 million), and the second-best for a non-Triple Crown since the advent of Nielsen People Meters in 1988.

This year’s three-race average viewership of 10.34 million even topped the averages in 1997 (8.75 million), 1998 (8.06 million), 1999 (8.05 million) on ABC when a Triple Crown was at stake in the Belmont.

The three Triple Crown races on NBC (Kentucky Derby – 14.83 million, Preakness – 8.08 million and Belmont – 7.67 million) averaged 10.34 million viewers, up 2% from last year’s three races (10.12 million), making it the best average for a non-Triple Crown year since 2005 (10.40 million), and the second-best for a non-Triple Crown since the advent of Nielsen People Meters in 1988.

This year’s three-race average viewership of 10.34 million even topped the averages in 1997 (8.75 million), 1998 (8.06 million), 1999 (8.05 million) on ABC when a Triple Crown was at stake in the Belmont.

NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: The NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup, which was broadcast on NBC from 1984-2005. Last year marked the first time that all three Triple Crown races appeared on one network since NBC last aired the Triple Crown in 2005. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001. This year, the NBC Sports Group will present 27 1/2 hours of Triple Crown coverage across NBC and NBC Sports Network.

NBC Sports Group is also the home to Summer at Saratoga, Autumn at Keeneland, and, in collaboration with The Jockey Club, the Road to the Kentucky Derby series that provided live coverage of six major prep races for the 2012 Kentucky Derby.